Can-opener.



L. DIGKERHGFF,

CAN OPENER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, 1909.

LOUIS DICKERHOFF, OF BROOKLYN, NEVI' YORK.

CAN-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

Application filed March 8, 1909. Serial No. 482,024.

To all whom it' may concern:

Be it known that l, Louis Drciinnriorr, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful mprovements in Can-Openers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof, in which similar characters of refeience indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to can-openers; the object of the invention being to provide an efficient device of this character which is simple in construction, inexpensive and adaptable for effectively and quickly opening or cutting out a disk from the top parts of sheet metal cans of different diameters without leaving sharp peripheral edges, whereby danger of accidental laceration of the fingers of an operator and the resultant danger of blood poisoning is obviated.

The device comprises a rod having a spur, a slide movable on said rod and having a downwardly extended curved knife of novel contour; the said slide adjustable for the accommodation of cans of dierent diameters.

The invention will be hereinafter fully described and specifically set forth-in the annexed claim.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1, is a plan view illust"ating the operation of .my improved can-opener; Fig. 2, is a longitudinal sectional elevation thereof taken on the line 2 2, of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, is a similar view showing the several parts drawn on an en larged scale; Fig. a, is a face view of the knife also drawn on an enlarged scale; Fig. 5, is an edge view thereof; and Fig.. 6, is a sectional plan view taken on the line 6 6, of Fig. 5.

n the practice of my invention, I provide primarily a handle A, and an elongated rod a. These may comprise a wooden handle and a metallic rod, or the two may be formed integral and composed of metal.

The handle part A, is of any desired shape and extends from the outer end of the rod a, the other end of said rod is provided with a compound curved spur 1, embodying the downwardly extended part 2, and the point 3, which is approximately parallel with the rod a, this spur is for insertion into the canuse.

Sli'dably engaging a slot 4:, in the rod a, is a longitudinally movable slide B, which is adapted to be clamped into any desired position on said rod by means of the thumbscrew C and washer o. Secured within the outer end of the slide B, is a depending knife D, which embodies the squared spindle 7, the horizontal base plate 8 and the knife proper 9; this said knife is of compound-curved edge contour and is provided with a sharpened knife-edge 10, and it extends obliquely across the base 8, to facilitate the operation of cutting the can top, as will be hereinafter described; said knife is also of substantially elliptical contour in cross section. The slide B, moves freely longitudinally on the rod a, and may be clamped thereon at any desired position by means of the thumb-screw C, and washer 0.

The knife blade 9, at its point of intersection with the base 8, is provided with a lateral groove 1Q, this said groove extends across the inner face of the knife blade; the rearward point of intersection between the knife blade and its base is provided with a curved part 13, which is adapted to bend the severed flange of the can downwardly and inwardly, as shown at E, this bend is automatically formed by the act of cutting the can-top; the base 8, has downwardly converging bottoni parts 14 and 15, to admit of a slight rocking motion when the device is being used; thus the severed part F, of the can, when the operation of cutting is completed may be caused to assume a position slightly above the part E, whereby it may be readily handled to be bent or removed. During the process of cutting the annular slit H, of the can-top the groove 12, engages the periphery of the part F, and forms a bead 16, thereon, thus providing a severed or partly severed disk or part F, having a perfectly smooth periphery which can in no way injure the hands of an operator.

It will be noted that the compound-curved contour of the knife together with its general tapered shape and the elliptical cross sectional contour of the knife produces a wide channel between the severed parts, and also, causes the periphery of the part F, of

the can to spring into the groove 12, and become automatically beaded during the process of cutting.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a can-opener, the combination, with a rod and an adjustable slide parallel With and longitudinally movable thereon; of a knife fixed to said slide and depending downwardly therefrom, said knife embodying a horizontal base extended at right angles across the bottom of the said slide, a blade having a sharp point and an oblique edge and being of tapering and compound-curved contour in vertical section and of substantially elliptical cross sectional shape, said blade extended obliquely across the bottoni of said base, and having a lateral groove across its face at the line of intersection between the knife and its base, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that, I claim the foregoing as iny invention, I have signed my name in presence of two Witnesses, this 25th day of February 1909.

LOUIS DICKERHOFF.

itnesses Tirs. C. BURNn'r'r, M. B. Dow. 

